Recent Comments

    Category Technology/Electronics

    Researchers find 1st compelling evidence of new property known as ‘Ferroelasticity’ in Perovskites

    May 23, 2017, Categories  Technology/Electronics, Chemistry/Nanotechnology, Physics

    1, Schematic shows a perovskite sample (black) examined by the photothermal induced resonance technique. When the sample absorbs pulses of light (depicted as disks in purple cones), the sample expands rapidly, causing the cantilever of an atomic force microscope (AFM) to vibrate like a struck tuning fork. The cantilever’s motion, which is detected by reflecting the AFM laser light (red) off the AFM detector, provides a sensitive measure of the amount of light absorbed. Credit: NIST 2. Image recorded by an atomic force microscope reveals the topography of a polycrystalline sample of the perovskite, including the boundaries between crystals. Credit: NIST 3. Illustration shows that in response to an applied stress, such as bending, the boundaries of the ferroelastic domains (red and blue regions depict domains oriented in different directions) become bigger or smaller. Credit: NIST

    1, Schematic shows a perovskite sample (black) examined by the photothermal induced resonance technique. When the sample absorbs pulses of light (depicted as disks in purple cones), the sample expands rapidly, causing the cantilever of an atomic force microscope (AFM) to vibrate like a struck tuning fork. The cantilever’s motion, which is detected by reflecting the AFM laser light (red) off the AFM detector, provides a sensitive measure of the amount of light absorbed.  2. Image recorded by an atomic force microscope reveals the topography of a polycrystalline sample of the perovskite, including the boundaries between crystals. 3...

    Read More

    Magnetic Order in a 2D Molecular Chessboard

    May 22, 2017, Categories  Physics, Technology/Electronics

    Assessing competing fundamental magnetic interactions. From: Long-range ferrimagnetic order in a two-dimensional supramolecular Kondo lattice

    Assessing competing fundamental magnetic interactions. From: Long-range ferrimagnetic order in a two-dimensional supramolecular Kondo lattice

    Achieving magnetic order in low-dimensional systems consisting of only 1 or 2 dimensions has been a research goal for some time. In a new study published in the journal Nature Communications, Uppsala researchers show that magnetic order can be created in a two-dimensional chessboard lattice consisting of organometallic molecules that are only one atomic layer thick.

    Magnetic order is a common phenomenon in 3D materials, such as ferromagnetic order in iron bar magnets, where the magnetic moments on all iron atoms point in the same direction...

    Read More

    Synthesis of H2: Novel Method sets Benchmark for Platinum-free Electrocatalysts

    May 22, 2017, Categories  Technology/Electronics, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    a) Synthetic scheme of MoNi4 electrocatalyst supported by the MoO2 cuboids on nickel foam; b) polarization curves of the MoNi4 electrocatalyst supported by the MoO2 cuboids, pure Ni nanosheets and MoO2 cuboids on the nickel foam; c) calculated adsorption free energy diagram for the Tafel step. Credit: Image courtesy of Technische Universitaet Dresden

    a) Synthetic scheme of MoNi4 electrocatalyst supported by the MoO2 cuboids on nickel foam; b) polarization curves of the MoNi4 electrocatalyst supported by the MoO2 cuboids, pure Ni nanosheets and MoO2 cuboids on the nickel foam; c) calculated adsorption free energy diagram for the Tafel step.
    Credit: Image courtesy of Technische Universitaet Dresden

    A new paper from cfaed’s Chair for Molecular Functional Materials describes a new approach to revolutionize the production of molecular hydrogen. In many of the approaches for hydrogen production, the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) from water splitting is the most economical and effective route for the future hydrogen economy...

    Read More

    Self-Ventilating Workout Suit keeps Athletes Cool and Dry

    May 21, 2017, Categories  Physics, Technology/Electronics, Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Self-Ventilating Workout Suit keeps Athletes Cool and Dry

    Self-Ventilating Workout Suit keeps Athletes Cool and Dry

    Ventilating flaps lined with live cells open and close in response to an athlete’s sweat. MIT team has designed a breathable workout suit with ventilating flaps that open and close in response to an athlete’s body heat and sweat. These flaps, which range from thumbnail- to finger-sized, are lined with live microbial cells that shrink and expand in response to changes in humidity. The cells act as tiny sensors and actuators, driving the flaps to open when an athlete works up a sweat, and pulling them closed when the body has cooled.

    They have also fashioned a running shoe with an inner layer of similar cell-lined flaps to air out and wick away moisture...

    Read More